Illini get early chance to prove last year's success was no fluke

Friday

Aug 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMAug 29, 2008 at 12:09 PM

After making a big move last fall, No. 20 Illinois and No. 6 Missouri are back for more when the two teams meet at the Edward Jones Dome Saturday in the Arch Rivalry -- football's version of the Braggin' Rights game -- that's gone prime time.

John Supinie

After making a big move last fall, No. 20 Illinois and No. 6 Missouri are back for more when the two teams meet at the Edward Jones Dome Saturday in the Arch Rivalry -- football's version of the Braggin' Rights game -- that's gone prime time.

While Missouri entered the season as the Big 12 Conference north division favorite and a contender for the national championship, the Illini are picked to finish third in the Big Ten and more concerned with backing up last year's improbable run to Pasadena.

The Illini start the season in the top 25 for the first time in six years but face a stiff early schedule. In the first five games this season, Illinois has three away from home against teams ranked in one of the two major polls.

"I guarantee that most of the country still thinks we're a one-and-done type of team,'' said Illini senior center Ryan McDonald. "It's on us to prove them wrong. We did a good job of striving in the spotlight last year when people thought we wouldn't do much. I hope the team has the same attitude, and we're still hungry.

"I have confidence we will be. We haven't arrived yet as a program. The Rose Bowl showed us that. We have a long way to go. We're trying to establish a program on a national level. We had one good year. You can't base anything on one good year.''

A loss wouldn't doom the Illini (remember, Illinois lost this game a year ago) but Illinois would make an early statement with a win over the Tigers. Missouri survived for a 40-34 victory last season after squandering most of a 37-13 lead while Illini quarterback Juice Williams sat the bench with a head injury.

"It's a great bowl game atmosphere against one of our rivals,'' Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "We're excited about it. The only thing is you have to be good fast. There are no warmups here. We're playing a high level team early. Our goal is to play our best game.''

Illinois seeks its first back-to-back winning seasons in 18 seasons and consecutive bowl trips for the first time in 16 years.

In Pinkel's eighth year there, the Missouri rebuild is much farther down the road than the overhaul at Illinois in coach Ron Zook's fourth season in charge. After playing in the Big 12 title game last season and earning the No. 1 ranking in the BCS in early December, the Tigers are aiming much higher.

"They can,'' Zook said. "They've done it more than one year. They've been to a couple bowl games. They were the No. 1 team in the nation. They have the whole team back. That's a little more realistic for them. I want our guys to appreciate and feel a sense of accomplishment, but we're not close to where we need to be.''

Illinois must overcome the loss of star running back Rashard Mendenhall and amazingly productive linebacker J Leman to the NFL.

Junior Daniel Dufrene is the starter in a four-man running back by committee. The Illini also expect to big jump in the passing game from Williams, in his third year as a starter, and a deep, athletic group of receivers. With two new starters at linebacker and safety, Illinois must contend with a Missouri offense that ranked fifth nationally last season.

"No. 1, you have a great quarterback that manages that dad-gum offense,'' Illinois co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch. "No. 2, you have a fast-paced offense. They do a lot of stuff. No. 3, they have a phenomenal athlete running around.

"We've got two new guys at linebacker and two new safeties. We hope they're ready when the lights get turned on.''

Missouri, a strong favorite from the oddsmakers, is coming off one of the best seasons in school history. The Tigers posted a school record 12 wins last season and won the Big 12 north division title for the first time. Their No. 1 ranking was the school's first since 1960, and Missouri made its first appearance in a New Year's Day bowl since 1966.

By thumping Arkansas 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl, Missouri sent a message about getting snubbed by the BCS bowls and rolled into this season. Besides the high-powered offense, a unit that led the Big 12 in total defense (in conference games only) returned 10 starters.

"It would say a lot to be able to go in there and win a game against a top-notch program like Missouri,'' Williams said. "It would hopefully make other guys believe in the Illini program, that we're back and last year wasn't a fluke.''

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

Illinois (0-0) vs. Missouri (0-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Edward Jones Dome (66,965), St. Louis
Series record: Missouri leads 14-7
Last meeting: Missouri 40-34 (2007)
Rankings: Missouri is No. 6, Illinois is No. 20
Radio:
TV: ESPN
The line:
Coaches: Ron Zook, 13-23 in fourth year at Illinois, 36-37 in seventh year overall; Gary Pinkel, 49-37 in eighth year at Missouri, 122-74-3 in his 17th year overall.
NCAA rankings (from 2007): Illinois offense -- rushing 5th, 256.8; passing 109th, 168.2; scoring 58th, 27.8; total 34th, 425.0. Illinois defense -- rushing 36th, 132.1; passing 83rd, 244.6; scoring 26th, 21.8; total 55th, 376.7. Missouri offense -- rushing 38th, 176.2; passing 9th, 314.1; scoring 9th, 39.8; total 5th, 490.3. Missouri defense -- rushing 25th, 122.1; passing 96th, 256.8; scoring 37th, 23.3; total 59th, 378.9.
Notable: Missouri has won all three games between the two teams in this building, including games in 2002 and 2003. The Tigers have won five of the last seven against Illinois. The series contract runs through 2010, but the series might be extended with games played at campus sites. . . In relief of injured starter Juice Williams last season, Illini reserve quarterback Eddie McGee passed for 257 yards and a touchdown, but he lost a fumble that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown and an interception near the Missouri goal line with under 1 minute remaining. . . Illini receiver Arrelious Benn had five catches for 74 yards against Missouri last season. . . Illini wide receiver Jeff Cumberland (foot) and defensive tackle Sirod Williams (knee) are out. . . . Redshirt freshman Matt Eller was named the starting placekicker Thursday. . . Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel threw for 359 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions against Illinois while receiver-returner Jeremy Maclin finished with 227 all-purpose yards against Illinois. . . Missouri linebacker Van Alexander (knee) is out. . .
Quotable: "We haven't had to wait much. They wanted us to play and get out of the way.'' -- Illini center Ryan McDonald, on the team's three prime-time TV slots this fall.
Prediction: Missouri 31, Illinois 27